hywel griffith, thank you, with thoughts _ night., with thoughts on _ night. hywel griffith, thank you, with thoughts on the _ night. hywel griffith, thank you, with thoughts on the welsh - night. hywel griffith, thank you, - with thoughts on the welsh situation in cardiff. today's parliamentary by—election in hartlepool in county durham is being seen as an important test for labour and its leader sir keir starmer, to see if the party has made any progress in regaining ground in its former strongholds in the north—east of england. hartlepool was held by labour in 2019, while the conservatives gained several seats in the region. 0ur political correspondent alex forsyth is in hartlepool. the latest thoughts there tonight, alex? , , ., , alex? this is where the votes will be counted _ alex? this is where the votes will be counted and _ alex? this is where the votes will be counted and if— alex? this is where the votes will be counted and if the _ alex? this is where the votes will be counted and if the sheer- alex? this is where the vot

hywel griffith, bbc news, cardiff.they show 1,979 new infections were recorded in the past 2a hours and five deaths. 0n vaccinations — the number of people who have had a firstjab has risen above 36.5 million. that's nearly 70% of the uk's adult population. over 20 million people have had both doses and that is getting close to 40% of all adults. the easing of restrictions has been tempered by concern about the rise in cases of the indian variant of coronavirus. the health secretary matt hancock told mps that the variant had now spread to 86 local authorities in england. 0ur health correspondent dominic hughes reports from bolton — which has seen a sharp rise in infections since mid—april — with the the indian variant making up the majority of new cases. in the town with the highest infection rates in the uk there's plenty of demand for the vaccine. through social media and word—of—mouth the message has spread — jabs are available. do you know if you're definitely eligible? no. you're waiting to find out? yeah, so i'm

hywel griffith, bbc news, cardiff.ing to return to normal is tempered by concern about the rise in cases of the indian covid variant. the health secretary matt hancock has told mps that it has now spread to 86 local authorities. our health correspondent dom hughes reports from bolton, which has seen a sharp spike in infections since mid—april, with the indian variant making up the majority of new cases. personal details there. in the town with the highest infection rates in the uk, there is plenty of demand for the vaccine, through social media and word—of—mouth, the message has spread that jabs are available. do you know if you are definitely eligible? no. you are waiting to find out? yeah, hoping i am. i think they are doing 16 and over in bolton, and we come under the bolton postcode, so yeah. hopefully. i have got my parents who are in their 60s, and both of them have got underlying health conditions, so i am hoping that that is going to be one of the eligibility criteria, there. everyone over the age of 16 i think

hywell griffith, bbc news.tions in england are still coming in. this is how they currently stand — labour has lost control of six councils, while the conservatives have made 12 gains. with votes happening across scotland, wales and england, reeta chakrabarti looks at some of the key areas that have determined the outcome. in scotland, the focus had been on whether the snp could gain an overall majority. they didn't manage to, they gained these three seats, they took east lothian from labour. they took ayr from the conservatives and they took edinburgh central from the conservatives, a big game there. but there was evidence elsewhere in other marginal seats that they were targeting of tactical voting by unionist voters to keep the snp out, so they had a strong night but did not get their overall majority that they were aiming for. in wales, the story is very labour focused one. labour had a very good night, it equalled its previous best of 30 seats in the senedd and there had been a lot of focus on whether the c

for the first time 16 and 17—year—olds will be able to vote. 0ur wales correspondent, hywel griffithlabour has been in power here for over two decades, but it is the last 12 months that has been the focus of the campaign and mark drakeford's role in leading wales through a pandemic. as unlikely as it seems, the trust and recognition that has made him has made him a bit of a political rock star. people wanting autographs as he is campaigning. but does that translate into keeping seats? well the welsh tories hope not and want people to think back before the pandemic and the last general election when some red wall seats in north wales turned blue n south and west wales, plaid cymru will push labour hard and will see pandemic as a precursor to potential independence. as for the liberal democrats, tomorrow is a storaway of survival —— story of survival. this stage it has not delivered much political drama and in fact only 12 constituency seats have ever changed hands since 1999. but this time around, there are a lot of marginals and that is where turn out to be key. turn out in these ele

more from our wales correspondent, hywel griffith. tell us more.— tell us more. yes, we are expecting -- we are expecting _ tell us more. yes, we are expecting -- we are expecting an _ tell us more. yes, we are expecting i -- we are expecting an announcement —— we are expecting an announcement tomorrow but i understand wales will adopt the same traffic light system as england and scotland, but it will come with a very big caveat. the official advice from the welsh government is not to travel to any foreign countries unless it is essential. now, while that means a foreign holiday wouldn't be illegal in a red, amber or green country, it would be against the advice. clearly, they want people to stay in the uk for now. also tomorrow, we expect confirmation at pubs, bars and restaurants can serve indoors and restaurants can serve indoors and cinemas, theatres and bingo halls can open their doors. and on june the 7th, if covid rates stay low, more people can see each other in their homes. however, we don't have a date for when potentially social contact

hywell griffith, bbc news.y in power have done well in these elections which bucks the trend of this part of the electoral cycle somewhat, why do you think that has been the case and others have failed to make the inroads they wanted? i have failed to make the inroads they wanted? ., ., �* , have failed to make the inroads they wanted? «i ., �* , ., have failed to make the inroads they wanted? «i ., �*, ., ., wanted? i think that's one factor, and it's to — wanted? i think that's one factor, and it's to do _ wanted? i think that's one factor, and it's to do with _ wanted? i think that's one factor, and it's to do with the _ wanted? i think that's one factor, | and it's to do with the incumbency during the pandemic, i think governments, both the welsh government and the uk government, perceived to have done a good job there, but i don't think that explains everything we have seen. the conservatives have done particularly well not just the conservatives have done particularly well notjust in the hartlepool by—ele

more than half of the 60 constituency and regional results declared. 0ur wales correspondent hywel griffiths held on to power in wales. with every election cycle, its numbers have only moved a little. right now, it looks like a party on the up. in a seat labour lost five years ago, it's taking back control. in llanelli, it's turned the majority into a healthy lead. but celebrations may be understated, like the party leader, but there's no doubt he's delivered. i started this campaign answering questions as to why this was going to be labour's worst ever result, a poll prediction of 22 seats. the campaign never felt like that to me. we've had a fantastic and energetic campaign with hundreds of people involved and real enthusiasm on the doorstep. covid dominated the campaign. it changed voting, too, slowing down the count. the final result now won't come until tomorrow, but the winners and losers are already clear. the conservatives have claimed new territory, like here in the vale of clywd. their final tally tomorrow should be up, but they know when they've been beaten. at the moment, we're

significant challenges from the welsh conservatives and plaid cymru. 0ur wales correspondent hywel griffitht they are campaign is focused mostly on the last ia months. mark drakeford's role in reading well through the pandemic. quiet and cautious maybe but it has made him a bit of a political rock star in well circles and he rather than keir starmer has led the charge. the welsh conservatives want people to think back to pre—pandemic and the 2019 general election when several red wool seeds turned blue in north wales. in south and west wales there is a threat from plaid cymru who see the pandemic as a precursor to independence given how many decisions have been made here in wales. forthe decisions have been made here in wales. for the lib dems tomorrow it is a question of survival. they only had one member, can be hold onto their one seat? fair to say it has not delivered much drama over the years. only 12 of the a0 seats have changed hands since 1999 but many are now marginal and so turn out could be key. it has never reached 50% in wales. we have the pandemic make a difference? will the w

hywel griffith is in cardiff.— griffith is in cardiff. in cardiff. thank you very much. the welsh - griffith is in cardiff. thank you very much. the welsh labour| very much. the welsh labour government, fresh from election success— government, fresh from election success last week, has been meeting this afternoon to discuss the latest stage _ this afternoon to discuss the latest stage of— this afternoon to discuss the latest stage of unlocking restrictions here — stage of unlocking restrictions here at— stage of unlocking restrictions here. at the moment, two households in wales_ here. at the moment, two households in wales can _ here. at the moment, two households in wales can meet indoors and up to six people _ in wales can meet indoors and up to six people from six households can meet _ six people from six households can meet outdoors. the welsh government, before _ meet outdoors. the welsh government, before the _ meet outdoors. the welsh government, before the election, signalled it wanted — before the election, signalled it wanted t

we'll see how it's all gone down in cardiff with hywel griffith in a moment.here, with the exception of glasgow and moray, lockdown easing from level three to level two has brought some degree of normality — though all to be approached with caution. alexandra mackenzie reports. are you glad to be back? yes! stepping closer to normality. gym classes restarted in much of scotland today, the easing of lockdown restrictions means more interaction both outside and inside. some families have been reunited, 83—year—old grace has dementia. for over a year, neil has longed to visit his mum in her care home, with no physical distancing. it is so nice to be able to hold you hand again and just be beside you. i think she just felt comforted. i could tell the minute i held her hand, she clenched my hand. how did that feel for you? it was amazing. it just felt so lovely, lovely moment. pubs can now reopen and alcohol can be served across outside across most of scotland but not in glasgow or in moray. you were expected to reopen today but late on friday afternoon, you heard

significant challenges from the welsh conservatives and plaid cymru. 0ur wales correspondent hywel griffith, but their campaign is focused on the last 1a months. the role in leading wells through the pandemic quiet and cautious, but the recognition has made him a bit of a political rock star, certainly he rather than keir starmer has led the charge in wales. while conservatives want people to think back to pre—pandemic times and not 2019 general election when several seats turn blue in north wales, it is inside west wells that they see the pandemic is potentially a precursor to independence, given how many decisions have been made here in wales about people state. for the lib dems tomorrow, it's a question of survival, they only had one member and can they hold onto their one seat was make at this stage, it has not delivered much drama over the years, only 12 of the a0 constituency seats have changed hands since 1999. but many are marginal and hands since 1999. but many are marginaland turn hands since 1999. but many are marginal and turn out be key. it never reached 50% in wales, will pand